Michigan lawmakers consider plan to overhaul Detroit Public Schools

State lawmakers and the public could get their first look tomorrow (Thu.) at legislation to overhaul the Detroit Public Schools. The district faces hundreds of millions of dollars of debt, and a possible default if something isn’t done.
State Senator Geoff Hansen is in charge of the Senate K-through-12 budget subcommittee. He says there are a lot of things to do, but tackling the debt is Job One.

“The debt is a priority because it’s an emergency situation. Detroit schools are looking at, I believe, April where they could run out of money.”

But outstate Republicans remain skeptical of the cost and what it might mean to other schools around the state. Detroit lawmakers want the district returned to local control after seven years of being run by a state-appointed emergency manager.